Local Law Enforcement Misdirects Public

Constitutional Carry Improves Security

From Lincoln and Omaha, many in law enforcement saw need to take issue with the Constitutional Carry proposal Legislative Bill 77 at the Unicameral (https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2023/01/26/omaha-lincoln-police-chiefs-call-constitutional-carry-of-concealed-weapons-dangerous/).

In fact, newly elected Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson wrote a detailed letter of his concerns to State Senator Brewer (https://www.gunowners.org/wp-content/uploads/Hanson-LB77-letter.pdf) but in many ways, he is nitpicking.

Understandably, law enforcement favors public safety and wants laws which empower them to enforce safety, but too often, such laws can endanger public safety and make people less safe. I have been in too many situations where police simply are not in the area to address my concerns. I live not far from Von Maur where a mass shooting (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westroads_Mall_shooting) took place. Such mass shooting could only been have been stopped with a good person with a gun. On my block, there was a shooting at a public housing facility. Also, bank robbers were apprehended in my neighborhood. The George Floyd riots were near me and frightened me.

In my area, I encounter mentally ill people wandering the streets and supposedly “homeless” people sleeping under bridges and in public parks. I have encountered drivers engaged in road rage as they tailgate me because I won’t go 15 miles over the speed limit. There are also the occasional aggressive panhandlers. Omaha is not the nice town many wish to believe.

A few months ago, my next-door neighbor called out to me for help. There was this strange young man who seemed to be sick from the heat, and my neighbor had taken him in trying to help. I visited my neighbor’s home and after a few minutes of talking, we dropped this odd character at a local park per his request. We still have no idea what his problem was but assume he was a drug-addict.

I would really like to have a Glock pistol but I think openly carrying a pistol would draw too much attention and cause more trouble, not less. But having a concealed pistol would give me more confidence to help my neighbors as well as protect myself. Yet, in public, I am unarmed and am extremely cautious about helping people. Also, the cost causes me to weigh heavily the pros and cons.

People can argue over the philosophical, but I know of a Republican volunteer who was threatened. I will not name the person, but I feel for them. There is no way to obtain a protection order against anonymous death threats. Many people are merely deterred from defending their families, homes, and neighbors because guns cost a lot of money and ammunition is expensive when practicing shooting. So a lot of the concerns of the opponents really do not add up to much. People obtain guns for serious threats.

Sorry, but seeing law enforcement setting up a gun for sniping on the rooftop of Do Space during the Floyd riots is not my idea of security and safety. Arm the citizens instead!

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